Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[Mister E]

I've just seen him say on Midlands Today that "we're looking to sign one more".

So, it wasn't "...only one more" ?
I may be clutching at straws, but he may - in order to play a few negotiation games - have said "one more" meaning "one more; at the moment ... with more to follow when we're ready".

Okay, yes, that's straw I see; better start clutching it.

[NorthYvillan]

If theres any truth in this, then i'm sorry Randy, thanks for all the good work you've done, but please sell the club to someone with sufficient funds.

OMG!! here we go... are you serious? Just who do you have in mind?
Reality check: There seems to be a distinct lack of interest from ultra-rich people wanting to buy Premier League clubs at the moment - as the majority of the clubs can testify.
Also, as Small Heath can testify, you had better be careful what you wish for.

[taylorsworkrate]

I'd love to play poker with all you guys.  This is just McLeish putting the screws to Whelan, nothing more.  Now Whelan has to figure out what McLeish means - is the one signing his guy?  Or has he moved on?  Or the fact that he's open to other possibilities and AVFC looking to other creative midfielders mean N'Zogbia is a distant memory?  Or has McLeish laid out his line in the sand, and that's that?

Brilliant move by AMC to get the git thinking.  And the longer this goes on without another serious bidder in the mix, the more it favors AVFC getting N'Zogbia for the original asking price.  Should put an end to this 'haggling' for CNZ.

Reading all these pages, and hardly a backbone among the lot here.  I could take all you for thousands.  Anyone in here even remotely experienced in the art of the negotiation? 

-C.

Do you think its wise, after the summer us fans have had to suffer so far, for the club to send the manager out to make a statement such as this if not true?

I certainly don't

[PaulWinch again]

Well there goes all the of the comments from the General that Randy always backs the manager. This is fucking shocking.

[mrfuse]

unless the one quality player is Messi then im very disapointed, if i had known this earlier i would have thought twice about renewing as i dont have enough money either!

[garyshawsknee]

So are we so skint,that we need two million from the sale of Cuellar,rather than have an experienced defender in the squad ??

If we dont get another centre back,our already rocky defence aint gonna improve much.

[Dave]

I'd be prepared to bet that we sign more than one more player between now and the end of August.

Anyone fancy taking me up?

[eastie]

I'd love to play poker with all you guys.  This is just McLeish putting the screws to Whelan, nothing more.  Now Whelan has to figure out what McLeish means - is the one signing his guy?  Or has he moved on?  Or the fact that he's open to other possibilities and AVFC looking to other creative midfielders mean N'Zogbia is a distant memory?  Or has McLeish laid out his line in the sand, and that's that?

Brilliant move by AMC to get the git thinking.  And the longer this goes on without another serious bidder in the mix, the more it favors AVFC getting N'Zogbia for the original asking price.  Should put an end to this 'haggling' for CNZ.

Reading all these pages, and hardly a backbone among the lot here.  I could take all you for thousands.  Anyone in here even remotely experienced in the art of the negotiation? 

-C.

yeah and im sure the manager would say  such a thing and lower all our hopes to save a million quid- mcleish is as straight as a dye, its true alright -can see why benitez and co werent interested now!

[cfetters]

I'd love to play poker with all you guys.  This is just McLeish putting the screws to Whelan, nothing more.  Now Whelan has to figure out what McLeish means - is the one signing his guy?  Or has he moved on?  Or the fact that he's open to other possibilities and AVFC looking to other creative midfielders mean N'Zogbia is a distant memory?  Or has McLeish laid out his line in the sand, and that's that?

Brilliant move by AMC to get the git thinking.  And the longer this goes on without another serious bidder in the mix, the more it favors AVFC getting N'Zogbia for the original asking price.  Should put an end to this 'haggling' for CNZ.

Reading all these pages, and hardly a backbone among the lot here.  I could take all you for thousands.  Anyone in here even remotely experienced in the art of the negotiation? 

-C.

Do you think its wise, after the summer us fans have had to suffer so far, for the club to send the manager out to make a statement such as this if not true?

I certainly don't

I don't think it's going to matter one bit in a few days, because then the story will be something different.  That's the way news cycles work. 

IMHO, this is nothing more than what Redknapp does every day of the week during windows - negotiate through the press.  And when an ass like Whelan is screwing around with prices that had already been agreed to earlier, it's time to fight back.

And despite what many here think, it's not as if Lerner has a mil in his back pocket to just splash around, simply because we're negotiating against ourselves.  Who else is in the chase?  To those who just say pony up because the fans have had a miserable summer is just lack of business 101 accumen, plain and simple. 

Let the man do his business, and then tally it up at Craven Cottage for the first game.  All the rest is just hot air and entertainment to keep folks like us interested in the game. 

-C.

[TheSandman]

It is now abundantly clear why we ended up making the managerial appointment we did.

You have to feel sorry for him. If they really are going to do such minimal spending it is abundantly clear that they knew full well they were appointing an unpopular manager in order to deflect the blame from themselves.

[ozzjim]

Remember when DOL likened us to poor mid table sides? That is where we are headed. No strength in depth, no real options outside the first 11 and no investment. 2 summers in a row selling and releasing more than we bring in, while the money spent in Jan on Makoun and Bent was clearly through fear of going down. If I were Bent, and as good as he is, I would look around and be saying you know what guys, you have sold me down the river. We would make a profit on him too, so I will not be at all shocked when he is flogged too.

The board are clearly making their bed. We are the ones who get to watch the ship sinking from the sidelines.

[garyshawsknee]

It doesnt ring true with the rumours the Houllier had summer deals already lined up. Im sure he wouldve bought more than two players??

[noodles_]

Maybe he's taking the N'Zogbia and Parker deals as done and he means one more after these?

Eternal optimism fellas, you should try it.

[PaulWinch again]

Agreed Ozz if I was Bent and this is true, I'd be knocking on the manager's door(although not his fault) and demanding an explanation.

[mrfuse]

no wonder were stalling over the Nzogbia deal, makes sense now